>> I think the key right now is exactly what you said - SQL Server.

Yes, we're finding that SQL Server has morphed into the universal back end.

With a few rare excelptions, all of our new VFP development has used SQL back end's since the advent of SQL Server 2K which, in many respects, we can program more easily and predictably than we can with dbf's.

We are routinely interfacing our VFP apps seamlessly with other "whatever" apps because of the commonality of SQL Server.

That has the effect of extending the viability of the VFP app.